USA > Virginia > A history of Bristol Parish, Va. : with genealogies of families connected therewith, and historical illustrations > Part 5
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The Episcopal church never had a more loyal and loving son, than Nicholas Hammer Cobbs. There was a touching tenderness in his tones, when he spoke of the "old church," (as he used to call it) like that with which a good man speaks of a sainted mother.
"Beyond his highest joy, he prized her heavenly ways," and when others mocked at them he seemed not angry, but grieved, contenting himself with the prayer, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." He, too, (like Bishop Meade again) was an in- tense Virginian, in every fibre of his soul and body. The author freshly remembers the last walk and talk he had with him. It was at the General Convention in Richmond. Among other things the bishop said, 3
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"Brother, when I die I want to be buried where the first thing I shall see on the morning of the resurrec- tion, will be the Peaks of Otter." There was a child- like simplicity in his manner, a pathos in his voice, and a tear in his eye, which the author never can forget. It may have been a fancy, but we thought he could not live long, out of sight of the blue mountains which shadowed the spot where he was born, away from the altar and the fires, and the green graves of his sires.
Within one short year from the date of this conver- sation he died and was laid to rest by loving hands in the bosom of his adopted Alabama. His wish was not (could not) be gratified.
But little he'll reck if they'll let him sleep on, In the grave where Virginians have laid him.
Bishop Cobbs was not only a good man, but he was a wise man, wise in winning souls, with apparently the least possible self-consciousness and self-assertion. His strongest point was his magnetism, which, without any effort, drew hearts to him and made them cling to him as the magnet draws particles of iron.
Bishop Cobbs had ten children, of whom five sur- vive, viz: Rev. R. Addison Cobbs, who married, 1858, Elizabeth P. Storrs, of Alabama, and has, since Octo- ber 20th, 1876, been rector of St. John's, Charleston, West Virginia.
2d. John Lewis, merchant, Montgomery, Alabama.
3d. Rev. Richard Hooker, who married May, 1862, Fanny Avery, and has been, since September, 1861, rector of St. Paul's, Greensboro, Alabama.
4th. Martha Smith, married June, 1858, J. A. Ellerbe, Dallas county, Alabama.
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5th. Charlotte Walker, married November, 1871, N. Cobbs, Ellerbe, Alabama.
We omitted to say, in order of time, that for many wars, Mr. Cobbs taught what was called an "Old Field School," near Trinity Church, Bedford, from bout IS15 to 1828, and was for a time Principal of the New London Academy, and at the time of his dection to St. Paul's Church, Petersburg, had charge of the Edgeworth Female Seminary, Liberty, Virginia.
REV. P. SLAUGHTER.
On the 2nd September, 1843, the author was called to succeed Mr. Cobbs, and on the 19th November, he entered upon his duties as Rector of St. Paul's Church.
It would not be becoming in the writer to be his own historian. He will, therefore, be as brief as will consist with keeping up the continuity of the narrative. Being reluctant to sever his connection with his inter- esting parishioners at Leeds and Upperville in Fau- quier county, and Middleburg in Loudoun county, the writer was decided by the opinion and wishes of his bishop, to spend the winter in Petersburg, promising at the expiration of that time to go back to his rural parishioners who had kindly consented to wait for him. In the course of the winter God was pleased to bless his feeble labors by giving him many seals to his min- istry, and a large accession to the communion of the church. Under these circumstances the vestry having been pleased to communicate to the incumbent their entire approbation of his labors and conduct, and their opinion that " God had crowned them with great suc- cess," and also to express the "unanimous desire of the congregation that he should remain as the perma-
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nent pastor," the incumbent, by the advice of his Dio- cesan, with the consent, though not without the vigo- rous protestations of those who had waited for him, decided to do so.
He continued to labour in weakness, upheld and cheered by the generous sympathy of a kind, affec- tionate, and indulgent people, until his strength failed him. He tendered his resignation, but the vestry de- clined to receive it, and proposed a summer's rest and recreation. The Rev. Geo. H. Norton, who had just been ordained, was invited by the rector and vestry to fill his place during the absence for recreation. Mr. Norton came and ministered to the people with such success as to awaken the gratitude of the rector, win the confidence and commendation of the people and give promise of that wisdom in counsel, power in the pulpit and effectiveness in the parish, which his career in the ministry lias since so signally illustrated.
Convinced that he could no longer bear the burden without trespassing too much upon the kindness of a generous people, he, after three months holiday, ten- dered his resignation, and it was accepted. During his incumbency, a chapel with free seats was built in Halifax street, in the suburbs of Petersburg, opposite to the quarter in which Grace church was situated. The incumbent who attempted to conduct a weekly service there was soon obliged by declining health to devolve it upon the indefatigable Mr. Gibson, to whom he was already indebted for ready co-operation in many labours of love. The author took leave of his congregation in November 1846, in a sermon which was solicited and published by the vestry. As that sermon is out of print the author hopes it will not be a
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! reach of delicacy in him to re-produce the conclusion of it which he finds in the columns of the Southern Churchman, whose editor (Mr. Lippitt) kindly re- viewed it. The sermon coucludes thus :
"In bidding you farewell, I am anxious above all other things to have placed before your minds a suffi- cient amount of plain Gospel truth to clear my skirts and to leave you without excuse in the awful Day of Judgment. I therefore now call you to witness that I have not shunned to declare unto you the whole coun- sel of God to the best of my knowledge and belief. And once more I beseech you with groanings of spirit, as I have often done, by the comparative worthless- ness of all worldly things, by the shortness of human
life and the duration of Eternity, by the terrors of a (leath-bed without hope, by the solemnities of the last judgment, by all the horrors of hell, by all the bliss of heaven, by the agency and bloody sweat, by the cross and passion, by the precious death and burial, the glo- rious resurrection and ascension of Christ, our pre- cious Saviour, to prepare to meet your God. And now farewell, thou Holy Temple, into whose gates I have so often entered with thanksgiving, and into whose courts with praise. Farewell, ye sweet singers, in unison with whom I have so often made melody in my heart to God, and in whose triumphant anthems, as on cagic's wings, my soul has soared to a mount from which it caught glimpses of the glories which glitter through the gates of pearl. Farewell, ye brethren, with whom I have so often taken counsel, and in whose company I have so often walked to the house of God. Soon you will have another pastor; another voice will become familiar to your ears; other feet will tread
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these courts; other hands will break to you the bread of life, and you will be happy in your pastor and in your privileges. But, as for me, I will have no flock; I must exchange your warm hearts and sunny smiles for the cold charities of the world. I shall be that sad- dest of sights, a shepherd without a flock, an officer without a command, a herald who is dumb; my work here is finished; my voice shall no more be heard within these walls, but I pray that some faint echoes of it may sound sweetly in the chambers of your memo- ries if not in your festive hours, yet in the house of mourning, in your beds of sickness, and in the hour of death, crying, "Behold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world." "Finally, brethren, farc- well; be perfect, be of one mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace shall be with you."
REV. CHURCHILL JONES GIBSON, D. D.
In June, 1840, during Mr. Cobbs's administration, the ladies of the Wilmer Education Society proposed to the vestry of St. Paul's church to place at their dispo- sal a certain proportion of the proceeds of their labour to be appropriated to the support of a missionary in the town and suburbs of Petersburg, whenever a mis- sionary could be had with the approbation of the bishop of the diocese. The result of this movement was the appointment of Rev. C. J. Gibson (a newly or- dained deacon) who was sent by Bishop Meade at the request of Mr. Cobbs to do the work of a city mission- ary, with the ultimate view of organizing a new Epis- copal congregation in Petersburg. Mr. Gibson began his work in October, 1841. In the course of the win- ter two points were occupied in the northwestern part
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of the city and its suburbs, one at the village of Et- tricks across the Appomattox river, and the other in (d Street at the house of Ferdinand Pucci. Sunday -chools were opened and divine services held regularly at both places. In the spring of 1842 a lot on the south bank of the river at the western extremity of Piamingo Avenue was kindly given by Robert B. Boll- ing of Centre Hill, as a site for the church. Through the zeal and energy of Wm. R. Johnson, Jr., and other members of St. Paul's church, the sum of $1,300 was obtained for building a church. The house (of wood) was ready for occupation by the fall of IS42, and was consecrated on the 25th February by Bishop Johns; being the second church consecrated by him in the first four months of his Episcopatc.
Bishop Johns in his report says:
"(Feb'y 24th.) I visited Petersburg. In the even- ing I took part in the interesting services of the lecture room of St. Paul's church with the Rev. Messrs. Berkeley, Massey, Smith, and McGuire, who had come to be present at the consecration of the missionary chapel. On the next day I consecrated to the service of Almighty God, by the name of Grace church, the building erected for missionary purposes by the mem- bers of St. Paul's church. The sentence of consecra- tion was read by Mr. Gibson the missionary; morning prayer by Mr. Massey, and the sermon by myself.
"Grace church is a plain but very neat and commo- dious building ; it cost $1,400 and is paid for. The benevolent persons by whom it was erected contribute $500 to the missionary whose prospects of usefulness are encouraging. Sunday, February 26th, I preached
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in St. Paul's church and confirmed twenty persons; in the afternoon in Grace, and confirmed seven."
It was here that the bishop inaugurated his plan for asking aid for diocesan institutions whenever Episco- pal services are held. The beginning was in Grace church, on the day of its consecration. At the Con- vention in May 1843 this congregation was admitted into union with the diocese, and recognized as an inde- pendent church by the name of Grace church, Peters- burg, Va.
The number of communicants was twenty-five- eigliteen of whom had been transferred from St. Paul's. Mr. Gibson was ordained priest November 19, IS43. by Bishop Meade in Grace church, and then became rector of the congregation. In the autumn of 1850, being straitened for room, the vestry determined to build a larger edifice. Mr. Robert B. Bolling again generously gave a site on Old street at its intersection with French alley; St. Paul's church, Petersburg, gave $900; churches in Richmond, $5co; in Norfolk, $300; Rev. Mr. Denison, Brooklyn, $50; Rev. G. T. Bedell, $50. The church (of brick) with enclosure, furniture and harmonium, cost $5,300, of which $3.300 was given by the communicants, then numbering about one hun- dred. Mr. Gibson said, " In thankfulness 'to Him who alone can build the house' the first service was held August 10, IS51. It was consecrated by Bishop Jolins October 28th of the same year. The sermon was by the Rev. Dr. Norwood, from the text,. 'Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.' Zach. iv: 6. May this be our motto," said the rector.
In IS59, the number of communicants being now
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260, a lot was purchased at the intersection of High and Cross streets, of Dr. J. B. Strachan, for $2,500, of which, said the rector, "$500 was given by our con- stant friend and benefactor, Robert B. Bolling, of Cen- tre Hill." The corner-stone was laid with Masonic ceremonies on Sth December 1859. The building was so far advanced by 14th July 1861 that divine service was held in the lecture room in the basement, and the rector preached on the text, "Hitherto hath the Lord helped us." "And now," says the rector, "the dreadful war which northern fanaticism brought upon us put a stop to the building, and for nearly five years we could do nothing but wait upon Him who had hitherto helped us.
"The war over, our building fund of $6,000 swept away, our means all exhausted, our young men slain, and our people's hearts sorely smitten and depressed, we began once more to build the 'House of the Lord.' Manifestly hath he helped us." On the 19th August 1870 the congregation was able to finish another house of worship, free from debt, costing altogether $38,000, $17,000 of which have been received since the war. This third building was also consecrated by Bishop Johns, who says, in his report of 1870: "April 19th- I consecrated Grace church, Petersburg, preached, and confirmed twenty. This is an admirable structure, convenient, substantial, pleasing to the eye, without any departure from the sobriety which becomes a house of Christian worship. This is the third church built for the use of this congregation through the in- strumentality of its present and only rector; each being in style and size a large advance on its predecessor ; the first consecrated in 1843, at the beginning of his
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ministry, the second in IS52, and this last in 1870, distant, I trust, from its close. At least three other churches, within the range of his voluntary missionary services, multiply the interesting monuments of his zeal and efficiency, and bear testimony to the faithful- ness with which he has 'looked to the things of oth- ers' as well as to ' his own.'"
Mr. Gibson, himself, in his Parochial report says, "Our new church was consecrated on 19th April, and already a marked increase is observable in the congre- gation and in their contributions." The number of communicants had risen to 409.
When that little swam of busy bees went out from the parental hive of St. Paul's, and settled at the end of Piamingo avenue on the south bank of the Appomat- tox river, no one dreamed that they would be so pro- lific in a few years as to swarm again and call for larger accommodations in Old street, and finally rise to a greater height, and settle in its present roomy house with the largest communion in the diocese .*
It is no exaggeration, but a simple tribute to the truth of history, to say, that Grace Church has been a centre of christian and church influence, which has ra- diated to the region round about. The counties of Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Nottaway, Lunenburg, Greens- ville, Sussex and Prince George would cach bear will- ing witness to its beneficent effects. By a service of nearly forty years Dr. Gibson has become the patriarch of Petersburg. He is one of its established institu-
* Dr. Gibson has presented for confirmation more than eleven hundred persons. He has married 1,500 couples, of whom 600 were colored; buried 2,700 persons; baptized 3,000, of whom nearly 500 were adults,
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tions, and his person is as familiar to its citizens, old and young, white and black, as old Blandford Church itself. Not that we would intimate that he is coeval with that antique ruin, or has any like marks of decay, for he seems as fresh and vigorous as the evergreens which crown old Blandford's brow .*
Rev. HORACE STRINGFELLOW.
Mr. Stringfellow was born in the county of Cul- peper, and passed the years of his early manhood at the bar. He was for many years the able and faithful attorney for the commonwealth in the county of Madi- son. But when his eyes were opened to see "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ," he could be no longer content to be an expounder of the law of the land, but felt con- strained to pass from the law to the gospel, and be- came an ambassador and advocate for Christ. Under this impulse he gave up a lucrative practice, and took his family to Alexandria, where he could have more congenial associations and access to the library and lectures of the Theological Seminary. He was or- dained (we think) in 1835 in St. Paul's Church, Alex- andria. His first charge was at Millwood, in Clark (not Clarke) county, to which he was commended by Bishop Meade, whose home was in that Parish. After about four years of earnest work there, he accepted a call to Trinity Church, Washington city, where he offi- ciated with many good fruits to a large congregation, composed of many prominent persons, members of
* One element of the success of Grace Church is that it has al. ways been a free church.
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Congress and others, who, during the winter seasons, fill the vacant seats in the metropolitan churches, and furnish the pastors of those churches an opportunity of exerting an influence which may be diffused through the States. Mr. Stringfellow embraced all fit opportu- nities of attending those "associations" in the country so highly commended by Bishops Moore and Meade, and the conventions of that day, and which perhaps contributed as much to revive the lukewarm Christian, and awaken the impenitent, and bring young men into the ministry, as any means of grace which has been brought to bear upon the diocese of Virginia. The present writer had the privilege of being a frequent co- worker with him on these occasions. It was an occa- sion of this sort which first made the people of St. Paul's acquainted with him, who was destined to be one of their future pastors. He came at the instiga- tion of the author, who was then rector of the Parish; and the surviving members of the congregation of that day, we doubt not, have a pleasing and grateful memory of the "season of refreshing," when the pco- ple crowded the sanctuary day and night for weeks, and the Lord added to the church many, whom, we trust, are now among the saved in heaven. When St. Paul's was vacated by the present writer, and the ves- try were looking for a new pastor, they naturally turned to one who was so fresh in their memories, and Mr. Stringfellow was called, and, having accepted the call, entered upon his ministry in January, 18.47. At the next convention he reported an addition of seven, and a total of two hundred and thirty-five communi- cants.
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In IS48 he reported, 24 added, 38 removed, died 7; total 214.
In 1849, added 14, removed 36, died 5; total 188. In 1850, added 6, removed 8, died 3; total IS3. In 1851.
In 1852.
In 1853, added 12, removed 14, died o; total IS9.
Mr. Stringfellow's ministry does not show such re- sults in figures, as it probably would have done in the old circumstances of the Parish. Hitherto the pastors of St. Paul's had nearly the whole field to themselves and gathered the harvests into their garner. But in the course of events the times had changed. Grace . church had become a power in the Parish and absorbed many of the people who would otherwise have swelled the congregation and communion of St. Paul's. There seems also to have been an unusual number of remo- vals from the Parish, viz: seventy-three communicants in two years. Against these adverse circumstances the incumbent labored faithfully and bravely until on Feb- ruary 16, 1854, the holy and beautiful old St. Paul's was burned to the ground. The author begs pardon for uttering one plaintive lamentation over a temple asso- ciated in his mind with so many "pleasures" and so many "pains of memory."
During this year Mr. Stringfellow resigned his charge of St. Paul's church and became the pastor of a flock in Hanover, and has since, as long as increasing age, and weakness of sight permitted, devoted himself to missionary work in Goochland, Louisa and the re- gion round about him; and now in his old age it must be a great comfort to him that he has a son and a grandson in the ministry, and is represented by other
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children and grandchildren who will perpetuate his name and memory in Bristol Parish.
REV. THOMAS E. LOCKE, RECTOR Protem.
Corner Stone of the New Church laid.
The people of St. Paul's were now without a church and without a pastor. Rev. Messrs. Lay, Norwood and others were called in succession, but dech'ned. The Rev. Thos. E. Locke was invited to take charge of the congregation. The site of the church whic. had been burned was sold, and, after some negotiations which need not be reproduced now, a lot on Union street was bought from Mr. Charles Corling. On the 20th of June, 1855, the corner stone of the new church was laid with Masonic ceremonies. The following ar- ticles were deposited in a stone in the north-west cor- ner on a level with the sleepers of the main floor.
I. A silver plate, presented by the Masonic Frater- nity, inscribed thus, viz .: "The corner stone of an edi- fice devoted to the service of God, was laid under the mastership of Wm. T. Turnbull of Blandford Lodge, No. 3, of Virginia, in the presence of the Lodge, the 20th June, Anno Lucis 5857, by Benjamin Harrison Grand Warden." 2. A Bible. 3. A book of Com- mon Prayer. 4. Almanac of the Protestant Episcopal Church, 1855, Southern Churchman, Banner of the Cross, Daily Press and Southside Democrat and Pe- tersburg Intelligencer ; two pieces of American coin; the Constitution and Canons of the Protestant Episco- pal Church; 'a parchment inscribed, "Corner Stone of St. Paul's Protestant Episcopal Church, laid in city of Petersburg, June 28th, 1855. Rt. Rev. Bishop Meade,
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Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Virginia, Rt. Rev. John Johns, Assistant Bishop, Rev. Thos. E. Locke, temporary rector; vestrymen, Joseph Bragg, David May, Thos. Withers, Thos. Gholson, J. Wed- dell, J. E. Cuthbert, Lemuel Peebles, Joseph D. White, Lewis Lunsford and John H. Patterson."
Architects, Nevins and Neilson.
Prayer was said by Rev. Minturn Thrift, chaplain of the Lodge. The sentences were read by the Rev. Thomas E. Locke. The choir sang Gloria in Excel- sis. Rev. P. G. Robert, Grand Chaplain of the State, made an address. Choir sang one hundredth psalnı. Rev. Mr. Gibson pronounced the benediction. The building was turned over to the contractors, who went to work upor it.
Rev. WILLIAM H. PLATT.
1856, January 29th, Rev. William H. Platt was in- vited, and accepted the charge of St. Paul's, and began services in Mechanics Hall the third Sunday in Lent. The first service in the new church (in the basement) was on the first Sunday in May. Mr. Platt, like Mr. Stringfellow, had been bred to the bar, which tends to give a readiness of thought and expression, which not only lightens the burden of the ministry, but often makes them more effective speakers. With these qualities, Mr. Platt soon rallied the flock, which had been somewhat scattered and disheartened for want of a fold and a pastor. Soon the varied wheels in the in- tricate mechanism of a Parish began to revolve under his influence with accelerated impulse, and all hearts became more hopeful, and all hands more diligent. If we are not mistaken, it was to his energy and influence
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the Parish was indebted for the commodious rectory adjoining the church, which adds so much to the com- fort of the minister and the attractiveness of the Parish. At the ensuing convention the rector reported an addi- tion of seven to the communion; a loss of nine, with an aggregate of one hundred and eighty-eight com- municants.
On the 19th of May, 1857, the new church was con- secrated by Bishop Meade, and pastor and people entered into its gates with thanksgiving, and into its courts with praise, thankful to God, and speaking good of his name. The rector reported to the convention an addition of thirty-eight to the communion; a loss by death, removal, &c., of twelve, and present number two hundred and six.
In 1858 the communion had risen to two hundred and thirty-one, twenty-five having been added, and seven lost.
In IS59 twenty-three were added, raising the nun - ber of communicants to two hundred and seventy.
The church this year sustained a heavy loss by the death of Colonel Joseph Bragg (on the second of No- vember), one of its oldest and most faithful members, who had been a church-warden of Bristol Parish for twenty years. The vestry passed appropriate resolu- tions in memory of his character and services.
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